The fastest way: use Screen Time restrictions

The built-in way to block websites on iPhone is Screen Time, Apple's parental control and device management tool. It lets you restrict access to specific websites or entire content categories without installing anything extra. You control it from Settings on the same device, or from a parent's iPhone if you're setting it up for someone else.

Screen Time blocks websites at the system level, which means the restriction applies across Safari, Chrome, Firefox, and any other browser on the phone. A blocked site simply won't load — the person sees a message saying the site is restricted, not an error page.

Key Takeaways

  • Screen Time is built into every iPhone and blocks websites across all browsers without needing extra apps or passwords to disable.
  • You can block specific websites by name, or block entire categories like adult content, gambling, or violence with one setting.
  • A Screen Time passcode prevents someone from turning off restrictions or adding websites to the allowed list without your permission.
  • If you forget your Screen Time passcode, you must reset your iPhone or contact Apple Support — there is no bypass.
  • Third-party apps like 1Blocker and Skylight offer more granular control but require manual setup and work only in Safari on newer iPhones.

Set up Screen Time and block websites by category

Open Settings and tap Screen Time. If this is your first time, tap Turn On Screen Time. Choose whether this is your own device or a child's device — if it's a child's, you'll set a Screen Time passcode that only you know.

Once Screen Time is on, go back to Settings > Screen Time and tap Content & Privacy Restrictions. Toggle the switch on. Now tap Content Restrictions, then Web Content. You'll see three options: Unrestricted, Limit Adult Websites, or Allowed Websites Only.

Limit Adult Websites blocks sites that Apple flags as adult content but allows most of the internet. This is the middle ground — it's not perfect, but it catches the obvious ones. Allowed Websites Only is the strictest: only sites you manually add to the list will load. Choose based on what you're trying to do.

Block or allow specific websites by name

If you want to block one particular site instead of a whole category, you can do that too. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Content Restrictions > Web Content, and scroll down to Never Allow. Tap the plus sign and type the website address — for example, example.com or www.example.com. Both formats work.

The same screen has an Always Allow section above it. If you've turned on Limit Adult Websites or Allowed Websites Only, you can add exceptions here. A site in Always Allow will load even if it would normally be blocked by your category setting.

Type the domain name, not the full URL. If you want to block YouTube, type youtube.com, not https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=.... The domain is what comes after www. and before the first slash.

Set a Screen Time passcode so restrictions can't be turned off

Without a passcode, anyone with access to the phone can go into Settings and turn off your restrictions. To prevent that, set a Screen Time passcode when you first turn on Screen Time, or add one later by going to Settings > Screen Time > Use Screen Time Passcode.

Apple will ask you to enter a six-digit code twice. Write this down somewhere safe — if you forget it, you cannot recover it without resetting your entire iPhone. Do not use a code that's easy to guess, like your birthday or 123456.

With a passcode in place, anyone trying to change your website restrictions, turn off Screen Time, or add a site to the allowed list will be asked to enter the code. This is what makes the restriction actually stick.

What to do if a site isn't being blocked

If a website loads even though you've blocked it, the most common reason is that you typed the domain name wrong. Go back to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Content Restrictions > Web Content > Never Allow and check the spelling. Domain names are case-insensitive, but a typo will break the block.

Another reason is that the site uses a different domain for different parts of it. For example, a site might have example.com for the main page and cdn.example.com for images and videos. If you block only example.com, the cdn version might still load. You may need to block both.

If you've set Limit Adult Websites and a site still loads, it means Apple's filter doesn't flag that particular site as adult content. You can add it to the Never Allow list by hand, or switch to Allowed Websites Only and manually add the sites you do want to allow.

Third-party blocking apps for more control

If Screen Time's options aren't detailed enough, apps like 1Blocker, Skylight, and Freedom offer more granular filtering. These apps work by setting up a content filter at the system level, similar to Screen Time, but with more categories and custom rules.

The trade-off is setup time. These apps require you to download them, configure your settings, and often install a profile on your iPhone that lets them monitor traffic. They also cost money — usually between $5 and $15 per year. Screen Time is free and already there.

Third-party apps work best if you need to block specific types of content that Screen Time's categories don't cover, or if you want detailed reports of what sites were attempted. For most people blocking a few specific sites or using the adult content filter, Screen Time is enough.

Blocking websites on a child's iPhone from your own phone

If you're a parent setting restrictions on your child's device, you can do it from your own iPhone using Family Sharing. On your phone, go to Settings > [Your Name] > Family Sharing > [Child's Name] > Screen Time. From here you can see their usage, set app limits, and manage content restrictions — including website blocks — without touching their phone.

Your child's iPhone must be signed into the same iCloud family account for this to work. When you make changes from your phone, they sync to their device within a few minutes. Your child cannot undo these changes without your Screen Time passcode.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can someone get around Screen Time restrictions by using a VPN?

A VPN can sometimes bypass website blocks because it encrypts traffic and hides the destination from the filter. However, if you've set a Screen Time passcode, the person cannot install a VPN app without entering that code first. If they already have a VPN installed, you can remove it through Screen Time by blocking the app itself.

What happens if I forget my Screen Time passcode?

There is no way to recover a forgotten Screen Time passcode. Your only option is to erase the iPhone and set it up again, which erases all data unless you restore from a backup made before you set the passcode. Apple Support cannot reset it for you. Keep your passcode written down somewhere safe.

Do website blocks work in private browsing mode?

Yes. Screen Time restrictions apply to all browsing on the phone, including private browsing and incognito mode. The block happens at the system level, not in the browser itself, so there's no way around it by changing browser settings.

Can I block a website on my own iPhone without a passcode?

Yes, but without a passcode, you can turn off the restrictions whenever you want. If your goal is to block a site from yourself as a habit-breaking tool, a passcode makes it harder to undo in a moment of weakness. You could give the passcode to someone else to hold.

Will blocking a website stop it from appearing in search results?

No. Screen Time blocks the website itself, not search results that link to it. If you search for a blocked site, you'll see it in the results, but clicking the link won't load the page. If you want to filter search results too, you can enable SafeSearch in your browser settings, though this is a separate feature from Screen Time.